Repentance for 2020 didn't help—Drozdy's concerts are cancelled. The band is ceasing to perform, and Karpanov is turning to Belarusian-language stand-up comedy.
Due to performance issues, the frontman of "Drozdy" Vitaly Karpanov is trying his hand at a different type of creativity – stand-up comedy. He told Tochka.by about what is currently happening with the band.
"Drozdovsky question": to leave or to stay
Back in the spring, the band stirred up fans across the country with an announcement about "leaving the big stage."
Vitaly Karpanov reacts to any news about "Drozdy" with healthy self-irony. For example, he has no doubt that people will come to a concert in Minsk, if it ever happens. But he is in no hurry to announce plans to gather the "Minsk-Arena" or some stadium.
"The main thing in this business is not to f**k up," he laughs.
And he explains: for starters, an sold-out concert, for example, in the Palace of the Republic (designed for approximately 2,700 spectators) would be enough. But there is a problem: the "Drozdy" band cannot perform in Minsk.
"There seems to be no ban as such, but, as our fans know very well, in the last few years we have been in almost every Belarusian city, but not in the capital. And this is no accident," says Karpanov.
In many ways, it was the unspoken ban on performing in Minsk that prompted Vitaly to creative searches.
As for the band, Karpanov's position is clear: until the end of 2025, "Drozdy" will give the concerts they promised, and then - that's it.
Why "Drozdy" were offended by the "Golden Hit"
The frontman of "Drozdy" says that he generally tries not to hold grudges.
"I realized over the years that resentment in itself is not a creative feeling at all, it eats away from the inside. The last time I was really offended was not even for Minsk, but for Mogilev.
We were invited to the "Golden Hit". Everything is beautiful: a solo concert, a full hall, a press conference... And then the organizers come to our dressing room and say: "Guys, sorry, you won't have a press conference." You didn't even have to explain anything," Karpanov throws up his hands.
But he still decided to ask: what happened? Because at the same time, the "Drozdy" band for some mysterious reason "forgot" to invite to a group photo of the festival participants.
"The organizers explained: "We were told not to make a fuss around you." Okay, we passed it. We played a concert, everyone is happy, satisfied. But, as they say, the residue remained," Vitaly admits.
At the same time, he calls "Drozdy" a national project not without pride.
"The biggest award we receive is the love of the audience. We don't need medals and diplomas. Today I can safely say: the Belarusian people are with the "Drozdy" band," Karpanov shares his innermost thoughts.
According to him, without any administrative resource, the band gathers full halls in any Belarusian city. He comes to some regional centers several times a year - and still a full house:
"We have three concerts in Baranavichy in 2025, the same story with Bereza, Nesvizh... And people go! Some people come up and say: "Hello, I have your anniversary, 20th, concert already." Can you imagine?"
But this also pushes Vitaly not to stop there. And to experiment.
"We need to look for some other forms of creativity in order to make a qualitative step forward. In no case should we stand still," says Karpanov.
That is why "Drozdy" are leaving the big stage, he assures.
"It's a pity, of course, for our partners - rural houses of culture. Today we are like a lifeline for them, helping to fulfill the plan. But I'm even more worried about the guys from the band. On the other hand, for each of them it's a great opportunity to try something new," the frontman of "Drozdy" sums up.
Karpanov and stand-up
Vitaly himself, by the way, has already come up with what he will do for at least the next six months - stand-up. He is already "testing" some jokes during performances with "Drozdy".
"I go to "open mics" - shows where aspiring and experienced comedians test the material. I was at such an event recently and suddenly felt nervous. I go out - and my knees are shaking," Vitaly shares his feelings.
Next - more. Suddenly it turned out that the hall did not react to the jokes of the aspiring comedian at all.
"I start a monologue, people don't laugh... "Well, great," I think. "It's just super." But I quickly realized: it all depends on the presentation. When I relaxed closer to the end of the performance, laughter was immediately heard. Maybe, by the way, it was also because I perform exclusively in Belarusian," says Karpanov.
By the way, Vitaly has an extremely curious observation that concerns his native language.
"At concerts in the outback, you can immediately see from the audience: people perfectly understand when I speak in Belarusian. And in big cities, especially in Minsk... It feels like many people who have recently left the province don't even want to hear their native speech. So, conditionally speaking, that "village" from which they escaped, as if "catches up" with them at the language level. Well, this is my subjective observation," Karpanov says frankly.
And he admits that he sees his mission in this now: to bring the Belarusian language to a wide audience.
"Can you name at least one stand-up comedian who makes a program entirely in Belarusian? I can't either! By the way, taking this opportunity: if anyone wants to join this movement - please contact me," Karpanov winks.
And he adds: his solo stand-up tour schedule will appear very soon. The plans include visiting many places where he has previously been with the band.
What will happen to "Drozdy"
Finally, Vitaly Karpanov hints that fans of the "Drozdy" band should not despair: the band will not disappear forever.
"I think some very rare performances, the same corporate parties, will remain.
It's just that we, creative people, need a break. This year we have fulfilled and overfulfilled several times the plan that we set for ourselves. We only shot seven high-budget music videos!" Vitaly bends his fingers.
He says that both he himself and the guys are a little tired. Even though there is demand from the public for "Drozdy" now, the pause was inevitable.
"I liked how Ivan Dorn said in one of his recent interviews. You don't have to devalue what you have already done. If you have created something really good, it will last for a long time. And even if we disappear for a year, I hope people won't forget us. And they will come to the next concert, when it happens," the frontman of the "Drozdy" band looks to the future with optimism.
At the end of spring, Karpanov already made a loud statement - "Drozdy" will stop performing. The soloist of the band explained the decision by the fact that they are not allowed to hold concerts in regional centers, including the Belarusian capital.
According to Karpanov, his statement did not go unnoticed by officials.
"On the same day, important people called us and said: "Guys, how can you not play? Why? Who said you can't play? Who doesn't give you a tour?" And on the same day after the interview, we were given permission to play in regional centers," Karpanov said.
However, the band was denied performances in Minsk.
In August, the leader of "Drozdy" rather strangely repented for 2020.
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